Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, underscored that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the continuous follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, continues to adopt advanced maritime navigation technologies as part of its strategic efforts to enhance maritime safety and operational readiness.

The Minister noted that Ministerial Edict (8) of 2025, amending certain provisions of Edict (2) of 2021, aims to regulate the use of identification systems on small vessels with a gross tonnage of less than 150 tonnes.  The edict mandates the installation and operation of smart tracking devices, which must be directly linked to the Coast Guard’s Maritime Operations Centre at the Ministry of Interior.  This initiative, he said, is expected to improve maritime monitoring, accelerate emergency response times, and safeguard lives and property.

Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed added that the new edict categorises tracking systems into two main types, one for navigating within internal waters and the territorial sea, and the other for open-sea navigation within Bahraini waters.  Both types are subject to approval by the Coast Guard to ensure compliance with quality and operational standards.

The Minister said that owners may procure systems for internal waters from any licensed private-sector provider, facilitating access and reinforcing the private sector’s role in offering technical solutions and streamlining vessel services.

Bader Hood Al Mahmood, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs underscored that the Ministry continues to modernise its maritime safety and security systems in alignment with international standards.  He emphasised that the new devices provide real-time data on a vessel’s location, identity, route, and speed, enhancing emergency response and rescue operations.

He highlighted that supply, installation, and programming of the systems will be carried out by authorised private-sector entities, which will coordinate with Coast Guard service centres to integrate tracking data into the centralised system.

Al Mahmoud concluded that this regulation marks a significant advancement in Bahrain’s maritime sector, laying the groundwork for a safer and more sustainable maritime environment while supporting economic growth and boosting the Kingdom’s competitiveness in the maritime industry.

The edict exempts jet skis from the requirement but stipulates that, for navigation licences to be issued, the tracking device must be properly installed and programmed according to technical standards.  The device must be fitted by a licensed entity and remains the responsibility of the vessel owner.  It may not be transferred to another vessel without prior approval from the relevant authority in coordination with the Coast Guard.